Boardwalk Empire Recap: Richard Makes a Friend

It doesn’t matter what his name is because Gillian’s snapped. She asks him if he ever dreams and he’s all “Yeah, sure…doesn’t everyone?” Gillian thinks it’s wonderful to dream because everyone is safe and happy and surrounded by the ones they love. Roger doesn’t realize just how horribly sad this all is so he agrees with the hot, fancy, older woman. Gillian keeps on that it would be great to live in our dreams but we have to live in life. She gets flirty and shy for a moment and says it’s not right to speak to strange men, but…he reminds her of someone. Gillian, no. Please no.

This is going to be a disaster.

Nigh court’s finally over and Randolph’s on her way out. Nucky’s been lurking around waiting for her and smarms that if she can just haul him in another 100,000 times she might make a dent in his bankroll because it’s always money with him. But Esther’s not an abused widow or a showgirl so she has no dog in Nucky’s hunt and tells him she only enforces the law, she doesn’t set the fines.

Unused to a blunt woman who doesn’t at least pretend to fall for his “charms” Nucky tells her it was only a joke. Esther deadpans that seeing him in handcuffs already had her in stitches and tries to walk away. Nucky follows her and asks if she’s headed home. Esther wonders why he of all people would ask her such a thing but Nucky smooths that it’s nearly 5 am he’s hungry and he would like the company. At the very least it should be interesting.

Can’t a criminal buy his prosecutor breakfast without having an agenda?

Esther agrees and they’re sitting in some all-night diner but Nucky’s just drinking coffee. Because a rich and powerful 55-year-old man needs to watch his gamine figure. Esther notices but Nucky tells her to go ahead and eat…she looks like she needs it. Esther busts out the SAT words and asks if he sees himself as some kind of paterfamilias but Nucky’s never heard of that. Really? Mr. “Read a fucking book” doesn’t know the word “paterfamilias?” Okay.

Regardless, Esther says it’s the patriarch, the boss and Nucky kids that he WAS County Treasurer, but those days are long gone. Esther can tell a con when she smells one and smarms back at Nucky, “Where are the snows of yesteryear?” Nucky’s impressed with her poetic side and Esther agrees that she’s “all lace and potpourri.” Season 4 mistress? Yes? No?

Nucky finally gets to the heart of why he asked her to eat: to discuss their mutual enemy, Harry Daugherty. Esther says she and the AG get along quite well, but Nucky rightly points out how her fortunes have turned since she lost his case. Esther thinks it’s an honest living and, besides, she got Nucky convicted.

Corruption Activation Launch in 3…2…1…